Property taxes, renewable energy projects, and addressing the unauthorized use of drones over Indiana’s farms and ag businesses were among the key issues that were brought up during Indiana Farm Bureau’s recent delegate session.
“What’s happened with property taxes, the way they’ve gone up, it’s got to be addressed,” says Randy Kron, President of Indiana Farm Bureau.
He tells Hoosier Ag Today that the majority of Indiana Farm Bureau’s 226 delegates want Indiana lawmakers to eliminate property taxes altogether.
“With the replacement [for property taxes] coming from either income tax or sales tax on services, with an exemption for ag, medical services, and business-to-business,” says Kron. “Also, the policy [the delegates] wanted was to put a freeze on property taxes until they actually get eliminated, so they did tweak our policy and they want more definite solid results.”
Renewable energy was another issue addressed among Indiana Farm Bureau’s delegates.
“Our policy shifted a little on this,” he says. “Our members said they want incentives for renewable energy to be located on non-productive farm ground, so that was put into policy this time. Our delegates also want to cap how many acres of prime farmland could be used in each county if you’re doing it for renewable projects.”
Kron also says there are concerns over reports of unauthorized drones being flown without permission over Indiana’s farms and ag businesses.
“We did strengthen it to add some civil and criminal penalties for nefarious uses of unmanned aircraft or drones,” says Kron. “I was told a story of one gentleman who said [unauthorized drones] went through his freestyle barn on his dairy farm, and that’s not right. Our delegates want to have some limits on how drones can be used by other people—because maybe they’re not up to mischievous things but maybe they are?”
In addition to voting on policies for 2026, the delegate session also recognized Mark Sigler, who is retiring as COO and Treasurer of Indiana Farm Bureau. Sigler was given the Indiana Distinguished Hoosier award from Gov. Mike Braun, which celebrates individuals who make meaningful contributions to their communities.
CLICK BELOW to hear Hoosier Ag Today’s full conversation with Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron.
